Pumps



July 7, 1959' J. ISREELI ETAL 2,893,324

PUMPS Filed Dec. 13, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Jul 7, 1959 Filed Dec.

J. ISREELI ET AL 2,893,324

PUMPS 15, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS y 1959 1 J. ISREELI ET AL 2,893,324

PUMPS Filed Dec. 15, 1956 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

I ll 12 (fl-NM I ATTORNEYS United States Patent PUMPS Jack Isreeli, Tuckahoe, and Andres Ferrari, .Jr., Scarsdale, N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to TechniconInstruments Corporation, Chauncey, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application December 13, 1956, SerialNo. 628,030v

8 Claims; (Cl; 103 -149) The present invention relatesin general to pumps and, in particular to pumps 'of thetypein which flexible tubes are compressed to force liquids therethrough.

An object of the present invention isto provide" a highly novel mounting fora platen on which the flexible tubes are disposed so as to. provide for a' universal motion of the platen for pressure equalization against tubes of difiierent outer diameters and" yet to stabilize the platen against longitudinal and lateral motion thereof.

Another object is the provision of an' improved mountingfor the platen, on which theflexible tubes are disposed, so as .to' greatly'increasethe efiici'ency' of the pump.

Another object is the provision of means to prevent a permanent .set from being efiect'edin the "flexible tubes of Z the. pumps;

A furtherobject is to provide: a highly efficient-and generally simplified pump apparatus:

The, above and otherrobjects, features and advantages ofthe present invention willbe' more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

r In the draWingsJWhich illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out theinvention:

Fig. I is a plan view of a pump pursuant to the present inventiomi,

Fig. 2 is a'view,.in elevation, ofthe pump'taken in the direction of the arrow" 2 in Fig. 1 t

Fig. 3 is aplan view of the base support of the pump with the platen for the flexible tubes being shown in phantom,

Fig. 4 is a' sectional view" taken on the line 4'-4 of i's- 3'; r 'Fig .i 5 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken on the 1ine 5-5 of'Fig: 3

Fig; 16 is a sectional view, on" an enlarged scale, taken on theline 6- -6 of Fig-. 1, the pump being shown in inoperative condition;

Fig."7'i's a fragmentary'view, similar to F ig. 6, showing the pump in operative condition; and

Fig. 8- isa fragmentary sectional v-iew taken on the line"8 -8 of Fig. 7. I

, Referring now to thedrawings in detail, there is. shown 'apur;np 10*pursuant to the present invention. The pump l-0 comprises-a base support 12 which mounts a platen 14 on which the flexible tubes 1:6 of thepump are disposed-'for operation by thepumping mechanism 18 which tsunwumy a motor"20;-

Pursuant 'tothe present invention, the platen 14 is mounted on the base 12' in? such manner to permit a universal. motion of 'theplaten for pressure equalization of the pumping mechanism 18- against tubes 16 of difierent outer-diameters and to stabilize the platen 1-4 against undesirable longitudinahand lateraL- motion thereof .during the operation of pump 10. As here shown,lthe-base 12 is. constituted .by andish shaped. member formed of a suitable material ,lpreferably an aluminum alloy, and which. is provided with the spacer sleevesl22 adjacent the fbur corners thereof; through'eackof which a suitable securing bolt 24 may be inserted for bolting the base on a support S. At its inner surface, the base mountsa switch 26, here shown as a microswitch, the function of which will be hereinafter described in detail.

In order to mount the platen 14, the base is provided with four apertures 28 adapted to receive the spacer sleeves 30. Bolts 32 extend through the spacer sleeves 30, which sleeves are disposed between the spaced washers 34 and 36. Each bolt 32 is threaded into the platen 14 and a coiled compression spring 38* is seated about each sleeve 30. The lower end of each spring '38 is seated within an apertured locking member 40', secured to the outer surface of the base 12', and the upper end of the spring abuts the under surface of the platen 14, it being noted that the washers 34 have a greater diameter than the associated apertures 28 so as to prevent the outward movement of the bolts 32 from said apertures.

The foregoing arrangement of the four compression springs 38 rectangularly' disposed at the lower surfaceof the platen 14 constitute a floating mounting of the platen on a support 12and permit a universal motion of the platen. However, pursuant to the previously described feature of the present invention, the platen, although in floating relation relative to the base 12, is stabilized against undesirable longitudinal and lateralmotion by the means generally designated by the reference numeral 42 in Fig. 4. As here shown, said stabilizing means cornprises a block 44 secured to the outer surface of the'b'a'se 12, as at 46, a block 48 secured to the lowe'r surface of the platen 14, as by the elements 50, and a link- 52pivotal' ly interconnecting said blocks 44 and 48. More spccifi cally, and as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the'link 52' is in the shape'of the letter H, having the" parallel arms 5454 which are interconnected by the-cross arm S'G. At the right hand end thereof viewing,- Figs. 3 and 4, the arms 54 are pivoted to the block 44, which extends therebetween, by means of apivot pin 58 whichpivot'al 1y or hingedly connects said armsto the block' 44.- Atthe other, or left hand end thereof, the arms 54 'are pivotally or hingedly connected to a block 60,- which' is-press'fit-ted onto one end of a pin 62 which extends through the previously mentioned block 48, the-other end 'of the pin being headed, as at 64. The projecting end of tlre pin is provided with a circumferential groove 66; in which there is received a pivot pin 68 which extends between said other ends of the arms- 54 of the link 52, it b'eing noted that the block 60 extends betweensaid other ends of the arms. It will be understood that the pin-62 can rotate freely in the block 48. 7

Due to the spring or floating mounting thereofi-ifwill be apparent that the platen 14 is free to rock; or oscilla'te about it's transverse axis, indicated by the reference mini eral 70- in'Fig. 3, and that'the stabilizinglmechanism fl allows for said universal movementof'the platen-due to the pivots 58' and 68 thereof. It will also be noted th'at since the stabilizing mechanism 42- inter'connects the platen and the base in such manner that the pivot'sf58 and 68 thereof are parallel to the'previou'sly mentioned transverse axis 70, and extend transversely of'the l'onge tudinal axis 72 of. the platen, the platen is stabilized nr retained against predetermined planar movement ing the direction of its longitudinal axis- 72 and is also stabilized or retained against predetermined planarorlateral'movement thereof in the direction-of its transverse axis 70:

As previously indicated, the flexible tubes on conduits 16, through which the material is pumped by the pump 10, are positioned on the platen 14 extending between the mounting blocks 74 and 76 Said block's are re"- movably mounted on the platen, being retainedin:- post tion thereon by means of the two pairs of pegs 78-518 and 80-80 provided at the opposite ends ofi the platen which are received in complementary grooves .81 rovided in the blocks. As here shown, the mounting block 74 constitutes the inlet of the pump and the mounting block 76 constitutes the outlet thereof. Provision is made for the inlet conduits 84 and the outlet conduits 82, there being an inlet and outlet conduit for each pump conduit 16, as here shown. A short length of conduit 88 is mounted in the block 74 between each inlet conduit 84 and each pump conduit 16, and a similar conduit length 86 is mounted in the block 76 between the outlet end of each pump conduit 16 and outlet conduit 82, as shown for example in our copending application, Serial No. 463,860, filed October 22, 1954 and assigned to the assignee hereof, now Patent No. 2,865,303. Said short conduit lengths within each of the blocks may be mounted for movement therein to prevent the bunching of the pump conduits 16 during the operation of the pumps.

The pump mechanism 18 comprises a plate 90 having a track 92 secured to each side edge thereof, as by means of a mounting pin 94. The plate mounting the tracks 92 is hingedly or pivotally mounted relative to the support 12 by means of a hinged block 96 secured to the base 12, as by securing elements 98. The hinged block 96 is provided with the spaced vertically extending arms 100-100 which mount a pivot pin 102 extending through a hinge member 104 which is secured to the upper track 92, viewing Fig. 1, as by securing elements 106106. A bolt 108 extends through the plate 90 and both of the tracks 92, being threadedly engaged, as at 110, in the hinge member 104, and the other end 112 of the bolt projects from the lower track 92, viewing Fig. l. The shaft'114 of the motor 20 drives the operating shaft 116 of the pump mechanism 18 through a universal joint coupling 118. The shaft 116 extends through the plate 90 and mounts the spaced sprocket wheels for sprocket gears 120-120, in registry with the tracks 92-92, respectively. Each track 92 mounts, on the periphery thereof, a sprocket chain 122 which is driven by the associated sprocket gear 120, as best shown in Fig. 2. A plurality of rods 124 extend between and are mounted bythe paired sprocket chains 122122 for movement about the associated tracks 92 when the sprocket gears 120 are operated by the motor 20. Said rods are spaced along the extent of the chain 122 and each rod mounts a roller 126.

The pump mechanism 18 is movable from the retracted position thereof, illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the rollers are spaced from the underlying tubes and wherein the pump is inoperative, to the operative position thereof illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, wherein the mechanism 18 is in its operative condition with the underlying tubes 16 engaged by the rollers. In order to releasably retain said mechanism in the operative position thereof, provision is made for the latch device 128. As here shown, said device is constituted by a latch support member 130 which is secured to the upper surface of the base 12, as by the securing elements 132-132. The member 130 is recessed, as at 134, and a pivot pin 136 mounted in the member 130 extends across the recess and mounts a latch 138 for pivotal movement. A spring 140 mounted on the pivot 136 biases the latch 138 to the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 6. In the depressed or operative position of the mechanism 18, the handle end 112 of the bolt 108 is engaged by the latch 138, as best shown in Fig. 7, to releasably retain the mechanism 18 in the operative position thereof.

Pursuant to an important feature of the present invention, the member 130 mounts a pin 142 for movement relative thereto. As here shown, the member 130 is provided with a recess 144 through which the pin 142 extends, a compression spring 146 being disposed in said recess and the pin 142 extending therethrough. The lower end of the spring is seated on the base member 12 and the upper end of the spring is seated against a collar 148 provided on the pin 142, so as to bias the pin to the upper or projectd position thereof illustrated in 4 Fig. 6. The pin 142 is utilized to operate the previously mentioned microswitch 26.

It will be understood that the microswitch 26 is a normally open switch and that said switch is connected in series in the energizing circuit for the electric motor 20, the latter being rendered operative when the switch is closed. The switch 26 is provided with a spring operating element 150 which extends into the path of movement of the pin 142 so that when the latter is depressed from the inoperative position thereof, illustrated in Fig. 6, to the operative position thereof, illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the lower end of the pin 142 engages the operating element 150, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and moves the latter sufficiently to close the normally open switch 26. The closing of the switch energizes the motor 20 for operation of the rollers 126 along the periphery of the tracks 92, said rollers engaging and depressing the flexible tubes 16 along the lower run thereof on said tracks to effect the pumping action through the flexible tubes. In order to operate the pin 142, a pin 152 is mounted in the track 92 adjacent the handle 112, and underlying the latter, so that when the handle is engaged by the latch piece 138 the pin 152 engages and depresses the pin 142 as, illustrated in Fig. 7, member being bevelled, as at 154, to facilitate the entry of pin 152 therein to engage pin 142. V

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that in order to effect the operation of the pump 10, the pumping mechanism 18 must be moved from the inoperative position thereof illustrated in Fig. 6 to the operative position thereof illustrated in Fig. 7, and that said movement effects the energization of the motor 20 which is automatically deenergized when the pumping mechanism 18 is lifted or retracted to the inoperative position thereof illustrated in Fig. 6. Since the flexible tubes 16 must be disengaged by the rollers 126 in order to discontinue the operation of the pump 10, it will be apparent that a permanent set cannot be effected in the flexible tubes 16.

As previously indicated, the flexible tubes 16 may be of different outer diameters. More specifically, where the pump 10 operates as a proportioning pump to pump various liquids in different relative proportions, the passageways through the flexible tubes 16 will be of different diameters, but the wall thickness of the tubes will be the same. For example, as best shown in Fig. 6, the flexible tubes 16 are each provided with a passageway 156 of predetermined diameter surrounded by a wall of predetermined thickness. The tube 16' is of larger outer diameter than the tubes 16 and has a passageway 158 which is of larger diameter than the passageway 156, and the tubes 16" is of larger outer diameter than the tube 16 and has a passageway 160 which is of larger diameter than the passageway 158. However, the wall thickness of each of the tubes 16, 16' and 16" is the same so that each tube can be completely collapsed by the action of the rollers 126 in cooperation with the floating mount 14. It will be understood that the space between adjacent tubes is sufiicient to allow the adjacent tubes to be flattened by the rollers for closing the tube passages. The different diameters of the passageways 156, 158 and 160 provide for the pumping of proportioned amounts of liquids by the pump.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the rollers 126 travel from left to right, viewing said figure along their upper run and from right to left along their lower run. It will be understood that the operation of the rollers 126 is such that before the forward roller on the lower run moves out of engagement with the flexible tubes, the following roller on the lower run has already engaged and collapsed the tubes so as to prevent back flow of the liquids'in the tubes.

Certain features shown and described but not claimed, herein, are claimed in our above mentioned Pat. No. 2,865,303 and in our application, Ser, No, 676,086, filed August 5, 1957, as a continuation-in-part of this application.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pump having a plurality of flexible tubes, means disposed in said pump in engaging relation with said tubes for compressing the latter progressively along their lengths for moving fluids therethrough, a backing member on which said tubes are disposed, a support underlying said backing member, means mounting said backing member for universal motion on said support to equalize the pressure applied by said compressing means against tubes of different outer diameter, and means to stabilize said backing member relative to said support against movement longitudinally and laterally of said support, said backing member having a resilient mounting on said support, said stabilizing means comprising a first member pivotally connected to said support and to said backing member for pivotal movement of said backing member about one axis and a second member carried by said first member and forming a bearing for said backing member for pivotal movement of said backing member about an axis at right angles to said one axis to permit rocking of said backing member on said resilient mounting about two angles at right angles to each other and to prevent planar movement of said backing member in the directions of the length and width thereof.

2. In a pump having a plurality of flexible tubes, means disposed in said pump in engaging relation with said tubes for compressing the latter progressively along their lengths for moving fluids therethrough, a backing member on which said tubes are disposed, a support underlying said backing member, means resiliently mounting said backing member on said support, and a pivotal connection operably interconnecting said support to said backing member to stabilize said backing member against predetermined planar movement relative to said support, said pivotal connection comprising a link pivotally connected to said support and to said backing member.

3. In a pump having a plurality of flexible tubes, means disposed in said pump in engaging relation with said tubes for compressing the latter progressively along their lengths for moving fluids therethrough, a backing member on which said tubes are disposed, a support underlying said backing member, means resiliently mounting said backing member on said support, a first pivot mount carried by said support, a second pivot mount carried by said backing member, and a link interconnecting said pivot mounts and pivotally connected to each one thereof to stabilize said support against predetermined planar movement.

4. In a pump having a plurality of flexible tubes, means disposed in said pump in engaging relation with said tubes for compressing the latter progressively along their lengths for moving fluids therethrough, a backing member on which said tubes are disposed, a support underlying said backing member, means resilently mounting said backing member on said support, a first pivot mount carried by said support, a second pivot mount carried by said backing member, and a link interconnecting said pivot mounts and pivotally connected to each one thereof to stabilize said support against predetermined planar movement, said second pivot mount having a grooved pin, a pivot engaged in the groove of said pin, and said link being pivoted on said pin.

5. In a pump having a flexible tube which is pro gressively compressible to move fluid therethrough, a support member, means carried by said support member and adapted to engage and compress said tube progressively along the length thereof for moving the fluid therethrough, said means being movable between a retracted inoperative disposition spaced from said tube and an operative disposition in engagement with said tube, means operatively connected to said compressing means to actuate the latter and to thereby operate said pump, and means connected to said actuating means and engageable by and disengageable from said tube compressing means in response to the retraction of said compressing means for discontinuing the operation of said actuating means, whereby to prevent the formation of a permanent set in said tube by said compressing means.

6. In a pump having support means and a flexible tube, backing means for said tube, mounted on said support means, roller means carried by said support means and adapted to engage and progressively compress said tube against said backing means to move fluid therethrough, said roller means being movable between a retracted inoperative disposition spaced from said tube and an operative disposition in engagement therewith, motor operated means operatively connected to said roller means for actuation thereof, and means connected to said actuating means and engageable by and disengageable from said tube compressing means to deenergize said motor operated means when said tube is disengaged by said roller means and to energize said motor operated means when said tube is engaged by said roller means, to prevent the formation of a permanent set in said tube by said roller means.

7. In a pump, support means, a backing means, mounted on said support means, flexible tube means mounted on said backing means, rollers carried by said support means and adapted to engage and progressively compress said tube means against said backing means to move fluid therethrough, drive means operatively connected to said rollers for the driving thereof, said rollers being movable between a retracted inoperative disposition spaced from said tube means and an operative disposition in engagement therewith, a motor having an energizing circuit operatively connected to said drive means, a normally open switch in the energizing circuit of said motor, a member movable in unison with said rollers when they are moved to and from said operative and inoperative dispositions thereof and means disposed in the path of said last mentioned member to close and open said switch.

8. In a pump having a plurality of flexible tubes and means operable to compress said tubes progressively along their lengths for moving fluids therethrough, a backing member on which said tubes are disposed, a support underlying said backing member, means resiliently mounting said backing member on said support, and a pivotal connection operable between said support and said backing member to stabilize said backing member against predetermined planar movement, said pivotal connection including a pivotally mounted link interposed between said support and said backing member, said link having a pivotal connection to said support and a pivotal connection to said backing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,834 Dieckmann Oct. 25, 1898 1,988,337 Santiago Ian. 15, 1935 2,466,618 Stocks Apr. 5, 1949 2,546,852 Corneil Mar. 27, 1951 

